Monday, 16 November 2015

First apprentice joins construction team

The construction team has welcomed its first apprentice on board. Matthew Wong, aged 22, started a Site Management Apprenticeship at the site on Monday, November 9.
 
He will be working with Kier Construction Northern, who is developing the site for GMFRS, for the next 12 months. 

Matthew, who lives in Middleton, said: “I went to university in Huddersfield to study Business and Entrepreneurship but didn’t like it so I left and since then had just been working on various sites doing fire protection.

“What I was doing at uni was really office based and the site work was obviously manual but I wanted to do something that included a bit of both and included different things

“I saw the Bury training site apprenticeship on a job site online and went for it – and I am really enjoying it so far. I get to do a bit of everything and it’s different to anything I’ve done before – so it’s perfect.”

Matthew’s apprenticeship – the first in a number of opportunities for young people that will be available as part of the project – is being run by the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Group Training Association (GTA) in partnership with Kier and GMFRS.

A number of other apprenticeships will be created as part of the project in trades such as bricklaying, plastering and joinery.

Matthew continued: “I’ve seen the 3D fly-through of what the site will look like and I think it’s going to be amazing. I’ve been on a lot of building sites up and down the country since I was 17 and this is like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

“The site will have so many different scenarios for training and for the community to see what the fire service does and learn about safety. I think it’s brilliant – I’m really proud to be involved and I can’t wait to see what it’s like when it’s finished.”

Chairman of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority, Councillor David Acton, said: “I’d like to welcome Matthew on board and wish him the best of luck in his apprenticeship journey with Kier in conjunction with GMFRS and the GTA.

“I think it’s fantastic that so many young people from Bury and surrounding areas will have the chance to work on such an exciting project, learn vital skills and gain lots of fantastic experience.”

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